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Book Club

Book Review: Jessica Bellef’s Individual will give your home soul

Like clothing and fashion, home decorating trends come and go.

How tempting it is to recreate the latest trends (sourced from perfectly curated Pinterest boards) in our own spaces. Stylist, writer and presenter Jessica Bellef has an alternative approach to creating beautiful spaces and she shares this process, together with the stories of a selection of creative people who have designed their own, unique and interesting abodes in her new book, Individual: Inspiration for creating a home that is uniquely your own

The 15 homes featured in this book each tell their own story and are an authentic expression of the lives and personalities of the owners. Jessica, together with photographer, Sue Stubbs documents these stories beautifully in a series of short features punctuated by some practical ‘how-to’ pages such as, ‘Ten ways to bring vintage charm to your spaces’ and ‘Collection vs clutter’ (I’ve always felt there is a fine line when it comes to deciding which is which!). 

This is an interiors book with a difference. As Jessica states, “You won’t find paint colours listed, a stockists’ directory at the back of the book or a breakdown of trends and must-have items”. It’s all about making connections with your home and presenting it in a way that doesn’t bow to trends but instead reflects your life, your journey and your values. Think bookshelves filled with the stories you love, pre-loved furniture, treasured objects from your travels and one-of-a-kind, handmade items. 

Reading Individual prompted me to think about the little things I could do to personalise our home. I wrote about cherished items, blank walls and adding layers in this post. This book was further affirmation of the time required to create authentic and story-filled spaces. I have decided to curate a mood-wall (a beautiful suggestion from Jessica) and I have selected the perfect blank wall. It may take some time. Thank you for the inspiration, Jessica.

Buy your copy of Individual here.

Individual – Jessica Bellef
Jessica bellef Individual book review
Tracie Hartley

Books, interiors and photography are like oxygen to Tracie Hartley. As a creative, she has curated an aesthetic entirely her own (follow her @traceharts). Obsessed with all things ‘slowing down’ and ‘simplifying’, we're grateful to have Tracie on our team. Tracie lives on the Mid North Coast of NSW with her husband, two young kids and border collie.

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